January 2012

January 16, 2012

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was the Cowboys' only representative on the All-NFL team voted on by Pro Football Weekly and the Professional Football Writers of America. Ware also was the team's only All-Pro.

The Cowboys did land three rookies on Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie team. Running back DeMarco Murray, right tackle Tyron Smith and kicker Dan Bailey all earned honors.

Murray, a third-round pick, rushed for 897 yards and two touchdowns on 164 carries before being lost for the season with a fractured ankle in the first Giants' game on Dec. 11. Smith, the No. 9 overall choice, played so well at right tackle that he likely will be moved to left tackle in 2012. He had three holding penalties and allowed 9.5 sacks, according to STATS, Inc. Bailey, an undrafted free agent, tied for fifth in the NFL in scoring wtih 135 points. He made 32 of 37 field goals.

The Cowboys won't have either of their secondary coaches back after Brett Maxie accepted a job with the Titans. Maxie had been weighing the offer over the weekend. He was the only candidate.

In Tennessee, Maxie will be the only secondary coach. He shared duties with Dave Campo last season and would have split the job with newly hired Jerome Henderson in 2012. Henderson replaces Campo, whose contract expired and was not re-hired.

Maxie replaces Marcus Robertson in Tennessee after spending the past four seasons with the Cowboys. He has 14 seasons of NFL coaching experience, including stops in Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco and Carolina.

The Cowboys didn't make the playoffs -- again -- and now face an off-season of questions. But before we look ahead, let's look back at 2011. This week we pose the question:

What was the Cowboys' biggest disappointment in 2011? Cast your vote, or post in the comments below.

Clarence Hill, Cowboys beat writer: The biggest disappointment was coach Jason Garrett. He was supposed to be detail oriented, prepared, in charge and the leader of men -- the antithesis of the supposed mealy mouth and slouthful Wade Phillips. Well, the Cowboys failed in crucial final game situations starting in the sesason opener and continued throughout much of the season, which is why they blew five fourth-quarter leads. The kicker was the unforgiveable breakdown in game management in the criminal loss to the Cardinals that turned the season.

First, it was the decision not to call a timeout and settling for a 49-yard field-goal attempt at the end of the game. Then, it was the decision to unwittingly ice their kicker. Finally, the Cowboys lost four of their final five games, including a first-half no-show by falling behind 21-0 in the winner-take-all season finale against the Giants. This team worked on getting better every day, but it didn't play inspired football when it mattered most. In the end, what we saw in 2010 when the Cowboys went 5-3 under Garrett after he took over for Phillips was rendered obsolete by the 2011 finish, likely putting his job on notice in 2012.

Carlos Mendez, Cowboys beat writer: The zero impact the defense had on games when the games started to matter. They couldn't get a handle on Rex Grossman. Gimpy Kevin Kolb was making plays on them. There was never any doubt Eli Manning was going to move the ball in the Cowboys Stadium game. And in Week 17, when the Cowboys had to keep the Giants to 21, they couldn't. For all the confidence he expressed in his players and how much he sold himself selling, Rob Ryan never got a statement game from his defense.

Charean Williams, Cowboys beat writer: Miles Austin losing the pass in the lights against the Giants. It was the play that cost the Cowboys a playoff berth. Austin ran by cornerback Aaron Ross and was wide open up the seam on a third-and-five play with 2:25 remaining in the Cowboys' loss to the Giants at Cowboys Stadium. But Austin lost Tony Romo's throw in the lights. The Cowboys punted and the Giants scored to come back from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Dallas would have buried the Giants with a victory, and things would be very, very different this week. Whether the Cowboys could have done what the Giants have done in reaching the title game is questionable, but at least they would have had a chance. (DeMarco Murray getting hurt would be my No. 2 disappointment. They were a different offense with him than without him.)

David Humphrey, assignment editor: Special teams return game. I can't recall anytime in modern-day franchise history that the Cowboys posed no consistent threat in the return game like this season. Only in brief appearances by Dez Bryant on punt returns and Felix Jones on kickoff returns was there any hope for success. While touchdowns obviously were not expected on each return, at least the threat of the big play should be present. It wasn't. The rankings (20th on kickoff returns and 27th on punt returns) don't accurately reflex how weak the units were for the Cowboys.

January 13, 2012

Laurent Robinson, who led the Cowboys in touchdown catches this year after being signed off the street, said he would like to come back and doesn’t care if he’s the No. 1, 2 or 3 receiver.

“I think I fit in good here, you know, getting along good with the guys,” he said Friday in a radio interview on KESN 103.3-FM ESPN. “This is where I want to be. It doesn’t matter if I’m the No. 1, 2 or 3. I feel like I have a good fit here.”

Robinson had a career year with the Cowboys. He caught 54 passes for 858 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.9 yards a catch, in 14 games. He was signed to a one-year deal in Week 2 after being released at the end of training camp by San Diego.

Injuries had limited him in his first four years in the NFL, and a hamstring injury sidelined him in his first week with the Cowboys. But once Robinson made his Cowboys debut in Week 3 against Washington, he did not slow down and became quarterback Tony Romo’s most trusted target in the red zone.

“They just said they were proud of what I did for the team and hopefully they can bring me back,” Robinson said. “I’m just waiting for free agency to start. They can’t negotiate with my agent yet. I’m just waiting around to see what happens.”

Robinson has likely earned a multi-year deal, and he may get a chance to listen to other offers. But he said money won’t be his prime consideration.

“Money doesn’t drive me to play this game,” he said. “I play because I like to have fun. I think I have a good fit here with the Cowboys. Got a good group of receivers. Great QB. Witten. The o-line and defense. I think I fit in good here.”

The Cowboys have 17 of 22 starters under contract for next season, but that doesn't mean all 17 will return or return to their starting roles. Cornerback Terence Newman is expected to be jettisoned, and the Cowboys could upgrade their entire interior offensive line.

Dallas will have chances through free agency and the draft to improve itself.

The Cowboys have the 14th overall draft pick. Some of the areas they could look to address are: cornerback, interior offensive line, safety, pass-rushing linebacker and defensive end. Draft analyst Dane Brugler gives an early look at who might be there for the Cowboys at No. 14, with comments. You can find Dane on Twitter @dpbrugler.

OL

David DeCastro, G, Stanford - top guard prospect in this class, mauling puller who can dominate at the point of attack and eliminate defenders - will fit somewhere in that top-20

Peter Konz, G/C, Wisconsin - versatile center/guard who is more of a later first rounder, but could easily sneak into top-20 - no question the top center in this class

DB

Mark Barron, S, Alabama - top safety in this class who loves to hit and get physical, better downhill vs the run than back in coverage but has the feet to hold his own against the pass

Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska - short and lacks elite speed, but he's fluid with good instincts, feel and ballskills for the position

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama - would be a definite top-15 prospect if it weren't for the red flags off the field but the skill is there

Pass Rushing OLB

Melvin Ingram, South Carolina - do-it-all pass rusher who lacks great measureables but is relentless - in the James Harrison (PIT) mold

Courtney Upshaw, Alabama - lacks great length, but has smooth footwork and hips with the natural burst to win the edge and chase down ballcarriers (Def MVP of Nat'l Championship)

5-technique DE

Quinton Coples, North Carolina - had a disappointing senior season and there are some questions about his passion but skill and raw talent is off-the-charts

Devon Still, Penn State - moves very well for a man his size with the strength and explosion to occupy blocks and collapse the pocket - Big Ten Def MVP this season

January 12, 2012

Jason Garrett has lost his title of offensive coordinator. It is a title he has held with the Cowboys since he arrived as an assistant coach in 2007 and something he kept when he became the full-time head coach last season. But Garrett isn't giving up the play-calling.

Bill Callahan officially was hired by the Cowboys on Thursday. The team created intrigue among fans when its press release said the former Oakland Raiders and Nebraska head coach was hired as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach. Some were hoping it meant Callahan will call the plays with the Cowboys, but that is not the case.

Garrett will continue in his role as play-caller, only without the title of offensive coordinator.

Cowboys backup quarterback Jon Kitna has informed the team he will retire, a move that was expected after he went on injured reserve Dec. 14 with a back injury. Kitna did not return phone call or email messages.

Kitna, 39, had considered retirement before the 2011 season. Instead, he returned to Dallas without his family, who stayed at their off-season home in Washington.

He played for four teams in 15 seasons and was 50-74 in 124 career starts. Kitna passed for 29,745 yards and 169 touchdowns with 165 interceptions. He ended the 2010 season injured, too, after an abdominal injury kept him out of the regular-season finale. Kitna was 4-5 in nine starts in place of starter Tony Romo last season after Romo broke his left clavicle.

Kitna's departure leaves Stephen McGee as the team's backup quarterback behind Romo. McGee, a former fourth-round draft pick from Texas A&M, has seen signifcant regular-season action in three games. That includes the Dec. 24 loss to the Eagles when Romo injured his throwing hand on the team's fourth play from scrimmage. McGee is 46-for-82 for 420 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in his career.

The Cowboys could sign a veteran quarterback, or they could draft one. Among the free-agent quarterbacks who could be signed as a backup include: Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton, David Carr, Charlie Batch, Vince Young, Derek Anderson, Rex Grossman and Brady Quinn.

Cowboys receiver Laurent Robinson is a finalist for Vizio's Top Value Performer Award. This is the fifth year the home electronics company has honored players who exceeded their base salaries based on their "regular-season performances, statistics and the role they played in the success of their team."

Fans will choose the winner by voting online from Jan. 9-Jan. 23 at www.VIZIO.com/tvp.

The Cowboys were Robinson's fourth team in five years. Robinson signed a one-year, $685,000 deal with the Cowboys before the season started, was cut after a hamstring injury and then re-signed. He led the team in touchdowns with 11 and had 54 receptions for 858 yards.

The Cowboys made the hirings of their two new assistant coaches official Thursday. Bill Callahan and Jerome Henderson will join Jason Garrett's staff for the 2012 season.

Callahan will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, while Henderson is being added as a secondary coach, the Cowboys said in a release.

Callahan spent the past four seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach with the New York Jets and has 14 years of NFL coaching experience. Henderson joins the Cowboys after three years with the Cleveland Browns in the same capacity, and while just in his sixth year of coaching, he played eight seasons (1991-98) in the NFL as a defensive back.